Severing device



ou. 31, 195o 'E l, STEPHENSN 2,:',2:=5,455v

I SEVERING DEVICE Filed Nov. 27, 1948 IN V EN TOR.

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Patented oct. 31, 195o T OFFICE sEvERING DEVICE Ernest I. Stephenson, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Eureka Specialty Printing Company, Scran- I ton, Pa., a corporation of VPennsylvania Application November 27, 1948, ,Serial No. 612,351

- 1 The present invention while relating generally als` indicated to a severing device is 'more particutlarly concerned with a device adapted for tearing perforated sheets of mailinglabels, stamps, and the like. e 'd i Hitherto, perforated sheets of mailing labels,

for example, after desirablyY imprinted havebeen `manually torn into individual labels sometimes with the assistance of a straight edge whichnot only is aYtime-consuming operation but often f A5 Claims# (C1. 164-438) Y 2L 1' Between saidlegs 2.is a: cylindrical feed roller assembly 5 comprising arod 6 therethroughjourlnalled in said legs, end caps 1 non-rotatably fixed inwardly adjacent each end of said rod, and a feed tube'member 8 having its opposite ends fitted over cylindrical projections 9 on saidcaps and l retained thereon as by the screws I0.

-u Each of said caps I has a tire II preferably of results in uneven tearingand consequent spoil- I age, and furthermorethe wetting of the gummed side of individual labels for sticking the same on. V`

packages or the like and without smearing the other side involves a degree of inconvenience.

Accordingly, it is one primary object of this inventonto provide a severing device of a unique' and simple construction enabling rapid andaccurate tearing of suchperforated sheets' by one simple operation into strips, which strips may be then conveniently handled forV wetting and stick- Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To ,the` accomplishment vof the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out'in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention,rthese being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the inventionmay be employed.

. In said annexed drawing: Y Fig. 1 is atop plan view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention; i

' Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are cross-section views taken substantially along the planes indicated by the Fig. 6 is a cross-section view similar to Fig.' 3 of amodication;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of sheet 'of gummed labels; 4 d

Fig. 8 illustrates Vthe manner of folding the sheet preparatory to tearing the same intoV strips; and

Fig. 9 is a plan View of one of the strips into which the Vsheetis adapted to be torn by the de-V vice constituting the present invention.

Referring Ynow more particularly to the drawing and first to Figs. l-5 therein, there is shown a `support memberfl preferably fabricated from explained.

strap iron orthe like to provide laterally extending legs 2 and an'intermediate connecting portion 3 Ato which latter portion a` laterally extending tion.

rubber" `or rubber-like material therearound of larger diameter than said tube member 8 whereby movement of the support member I in a direction lengthwise of the handle 4 with said tires engaguing the top of a table or desk or like surface effects rotation of said feed roller assembbT ,5 about the longitudinal axis of rod 6. The length of the tubular member 8 between said caps I preferably corresponds with the length of the perforated sheet to be severed as is hereinafter morefully In addition, one leg 2 is provided with a stop'lug I2 engagedV by apin I3 projecting axially from the adjacent cap 'I to thus preclude Arotation'of said roller assembly 5 ina counter- Aclockwise direction as'viewed in Fig.. `2 and engaged by a pin I4 following predetermined clockwiserotation of said roller assembly, such latter rotation being about 180 in the present construc- In order to yieldably restore and hold the roller 5 in the position shown in Fig. l, a torsion spring I5 is disposed around one end of rod 6 and has its opposite ends fitted into apertures in the `adjacent leg "Zand adjacent cap 1 as shown. l

Said tubular member is provided with a seriesV of `aligned transverse slots vI6 spaced apart to co1'- .respond with the spacing of the perforated lines `I1 on the 'sheet I8 which is to be severed andv between such slots 'I6 are a series of drive clips or feed fingers I 9 vherein shown as being lanced from thet'ubular member 8 and each formed to pro- ,vide a generally,circumferentially extending portion and a radially extending portion for retaina typical perforated ing'a sheet of paper on said tubular member and for causing the sheet to move in unison with the roller `5.V The aforesaid radially extending portions of said clips I9 lie in a straight-line circumferentially adjacent one end of slots` I6 so vthat the severing tools or members hereinafter referred to mayv cutV through a sheet from one edge to the other. I

Adjacent the other ends of such slots I6 and extending to a, point within .the periphery of the tubular member k8 Aare a` series of needles 20 adjustably held as by screwsQI which are threaded Vin guide members 22; each'said guide member operating handle 4 is"connected aslshown. d 'l being herein illustrated as comprising a hub p0rtion 23 with a `pair of curvedarms 24'joineldtQ- I gether by a cross bar 25, and such arms being adapted during the use of the device to encircle a portion of the periphery of said tubular member 8 and thus hold or guide the sheet being severed so that the sheet travels against the needles '20.

Said guide members 22 are fixedly connected to a rod 26, parallel to the rod 6, in desired axially spaced relation and in alignment With one another as'by means of the set screws 2 having threaded engagement with s aid guide members. 'IheV opposite ends of said rod 26 are journalled in the legs 2 and are provided with 4collars 28 and 29 thereon for precluding axial shifting of said rod 'Fig. 2, one'guide member 22 is provided With a knob 30 thereon.

Having thus described one embodiment of the ...present invention, reference will now be made to the operation thereof. First a perforated sheet s;folded as clearly shown in Fig. 8 and then with the guide members`22 disposed in the dotted position of Fig.'2 one longitudinally extending edge of 'such folded sheet is positioned in the clips I9 andthe folded sheet wrapped around roller preferably .with the ungummed side facing outwardly `whereupon the .guide members 22 are shifted to the solid line position of Fig. 2 to hold `thesheet around the roller 5 so as to overlie a 'portion'ofithe circumferential extent of the slots 6;6. Then with the tires l l engaged with a table Vor desk top, the whole device may be moved towardtheright as viewed in Fig. 2 whereupon the Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

l. In a severing device, the combination of a support member, a roller journalled in said support member provided with a transverse slot and with afclip for engagement with an edge of material adapted to beplaced on said roller, a circumferentially extending guide member on said support member for holding such material in curved form around said roller and over such slot, a severing member on one of said members Vexten-ding inwardly through such slot adjacent the other edge of such xmaterial whereupon relative lrotation Vof said support member .and roller in one direction severs the material thus moved past said severing member, said ,guide .member being connected pto vsaid support member Vfor .supportmemben a roller member journalled in said -support member, means to hold material ,to

.be severed in a curved form around said roller member, and a transversely ,disposed lsevering member on .one of said .members operative `t0 `sever such materialupon relative rotationfof said support vmember and roller member, said support and -roller members being provided With interengageablestop members limiting thedegree of relativerotation inopposite directions, anda spring i member operatively interposed between said suproller assembly 5 with the folded sheet I8 thereon "tion by the spring l5.

In ,the modification illustrated in Fig. 6 the -guide members 33 are provided with a series of sharp edged thin wheels 34 journalled as on pins 35 in said guide member. Said wheels 34 are in -some instances preferred over the needles 20 especially when unperforated sheets are to ybe severed `into strips. VIn lieu of ,either the wheels 34 or needles v2l), the severing members may comprise Vwires or threads disposed chordwise of the slots I6, or non-rotary blades of any desired shape.

Although in the forms of the invention illustrated, the -roller assembly'5 is of a diameter requiring folding of the perforated sheet to be severed, it will be apparent that the diameter of said roller may be appropriately increased to accommodate the full width of a sheet in Which case s ever'al sheets may be severed at one time.

'-In any case, with the sheet or sheets severed into strips 32 in one simple operation as aforesaid, 'it is now convenientto wet the gummed side and apply one label at a time, each time tearing the strip along the short perforation between successivella'bels.

portand roller members for yieldably 'holding said members in Ya predetermined rotative position.

3. In a severing device, the combination of a U- shaped support member provided with ,anloperating handle .extending transversely therefrom .and with opposed parallel legs, ,a roller Abetween such legs having 4its ends journalled therein, a guide member mounted adjacentthe free ends of such'legs for swingingabout an axis .parallel with the .axis of said roller, saidguide member being curved conformably to said roller so as to encircle a ,portion of said roller,` the portion of said roller vencircled by said guide Amember being formed with a transverse slot, a severing member on said guide memberextendinginto such slot, a clip on said roller circumferentially spaced ,from said severing member and adapted toengage Yan edge of material to besevered disposed between said guide member and roller, said roller when rotated in one .direction causing material thereon engaged with said clip tomove with said roller past said severing member.

4:. In a severing device, the combination of a U-shaped support member provided with vanoperating handle extending transversely .therefrom and with opposed parallel legs, va roller rbetween such legs having its ends journalled therein, .a guide member mounted adjacent the freeendsof such legs for swinging about an axis parallel with the axis of said roller, said guide member .being curved conformably to said ,roller so as =to. encircle a portion of said roller, the portion `of Ysaid roller encircled by said guide member .being formed with a transverse slot, a severingmember on said guide member extending into .such slot, a clip on said roller .circumferentially .spaced from said severing .member -andladapted to vengage an edge of material toA be severed disposed between said guide member and roller, said roller when rotated in one direction causing material thereon engaged with said clip to move with said roller past said severing member, and a spring between said support'l member and roller yieldably opposing such rotation of said roller and operative to return said roller to an initial rotative position relative to said support.

5. In a severing device, the combination of a support member, a roller member journalled in said support member, means to hold material to be severed in a curved form around said roller member, and a transversely disposed severing member on one of said members operative to sever such material upon relative rotation of said support member and roller member, said support and roller members being provided with interengageable stop members limiting the degree of rel- The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 39,294 Leland July 21, 1863 1,289,271 Roesen Dec. 31, 1918 1,998,357 Carlson Apr. 16, 1935 2,252,733 Sherman et al Aug. 17, 1941 2,291,658 Sherman Aug. 4, 1942 2,328,582 Ratchford et al Sept. 7, 1943 2,380,949 Davidson Aug. 7, 1945 

